ABSTRACT
In the last two chapters, the patterns and processes of nature (landform and ecological patterns) were explored in an effort to explain how the landscape has developed in such an organized way over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. However, it is difficult to find a truly natural landscape, one that is wholly devoid of even the slightest traces of human activity or has not been subject to some influence at some time. After all, human societies survive everywhere from the hottest deserts to the coldest polar regions. Only the highest mountains, ice caps and Antarctic regions may have escaped direct influence. Even here indirect human influences have been felt. When we explored the notion of environment in Chapter Three, we acknowledged that we are an integral part of it. Thus, the search for a landscape without human influence is futile and of course the definition of the European Landscape Convention neces-sarily incorporates perception by people.
